Sunday, February 2, 2014

Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer for a Felony: Important Facts to Know

Criminal defense lawyers know your life and liberty is greatly at
risk of being cut down from a criminal felony charge. Even if you are
criminally charged for a felony and not convicted you can still lose
your job and suffer greatly from the social stigma. If charges have not
been filed and you are being criminally investigated, now is the best
time to hire a criminal defense lawyer. A lawyer will preserve evidence
in your favor and bring it to the prosecutor's or police's attention
before they file charges. In most cases it is much easier for a lawyer
to prevent criminal charges from being filed then trying to get them
dismissed after charges have been filed.

Criminal Defense Lawyers Protect You from the Government's Power

If
you have been arrested, indicted, or are being investigated for a
criminal offense, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer to
protect your life. The earlier a criminal lawyer intercedes on your
behalf, the better your chances of having a better result on your case. A
criminal defense lawyer can protect rights you may not even be aware of
in an investigation by police, prosecutor or detectives. It is very
unusual and rare for a defendant charged with a serious crime to not
benefit from having a private lawyer. A criminal defense lawyer will
protect you from the government's power and use of coercion, especially
from overzealous prosecutors.

The Government Provides Public Defenders to Those Who Can't Afford a Private Lawyer

Public
defenders are lawyers that work for the government.
Government-appointed lawyers are hired and paid by the state on a
case-by-case basis. A public defender or appointed lawyer is made
available to those not able to pay for a private lawyer. In such
instances, you are not entitled to pick your lawyer, who may or may not
have experience with your particular type of criminal law case.

You Have the Right to a Private Criminal Defense Lawyer

Private
criminal defense lawyers having great case results are able to do so
because they work with a team of top criminal lawyers, have a slew of
experts and resources, and also have the necessary time to work on your
case. All jurisdictions in the United States allow all persons to have a
private criminal defense lawyer. It is your right, as stated in the United States constitution, to be represented by a lawyer for any type of case. You also have the right to a lawyer at any stage of the case, even before charges are filed and you are only questioned.

A Felony Charge Can Severely Hurt Your Life Forever

When
convicted of a felony crime, whether you go to prison or not, your life
may suffer serious consequences during imprisonment and after. Even
if a criminal case is dismissed, when a case is filed, there is still a
stain on the defendant's record that may appear in a background check.
No lawyer can stop your criminal record from showing up in an internet
background check that comes up in seconds with the click of a button. A
criminal conviction on your record will affect your ability to get any
job, housing, obtaining a job license, getting a mortgage, higher
education schooling, student loans, any government assistance programs
and more. Furthermore, if you are convicted of a felony you are usually
not eligible for low-income housing.

60% of Ex-Felons Remain Unemployed, Many Become Homeless

A
2007 study done by the National Institute of Justice found 60% of
ex-felon offenders remain unemployed a year after their release. The
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation states that 75%
people convicted of a felony are unemployed. Many unemployed felons have
a low quality of life as panhandlers, camp out on the street and the
lucky ones stay in homeless shelters, and eat at soup kitchens. Being
unemployed makes a former criminal offender more likely to commit a
crime and land right back in prison. The facts are clear, once you have
been convicted of a crime you may end up revolving in and out of prison
for the rest of your life or homeless.

Criminal Law is Not for Amateurs, it is Very Complex and Challenging

Criminal
law is extremely lengthy and not for the feeble-minded. Aside from the
intricacy of laws concerning criminal charges there exist laws regarding
evidence, there are legal procedures, and deadlines strategically used
by criminal defense lawyers. One innocent mistake by a lawyer not
experienced in serious criminal defense, like missing a deadline or not
responding in the required time period could cost you greatly and cause
irreversible grave damage to your case. An experienced criminal defense
lawyer will be able to assess the proper legal path to take throughout
the case. A lawyer will also have the ability to identify and assess the
strengths and weaknesses and counter them with a well devised strategy.
Of course, a lawyer working with a team of lawyers, experts and having
the necessary resources will be able to pool their criminal defense
expertise and knowledge for your benefit.

Cost of Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer

When
your liberty is at stake and your life may be affected forever, you
should hire the best criminal defense lawyer to protect you. Your life
is valuable and this is not the time to skimp or shop around for the
cheapest attorney. Consider hiring a criminal defense lawyer who lists
at least some of their case results on their website and who also post
their testimonials. Some of the best lawyer websites will even post
reviews verified by another company. Know that the decisions you make
now may determine how your life will be forever. What kind of life you
will have is more important than the money used to hire a lawyer.

Many
criminal defense lawyers bill hourly or have a flat fee arrangement. A
lawyer giving a flat fee upfront will assure you get the legal
representation and the retainer will assure you of no surprises. Many of
the best criminal defense lawyers even offer payment plans because they
are dedicated to offering the best legal representation and getting you
the justice you deserve. However, know that the best lawyers also hire
the best experts and use cutting edge resources to work effectively on
your case and all these things come at a cost. Be prepared to pay a
reasonable deposit for the best criminal defense lawyer.

If you do
not have any money to pay a private lawyer, explain your dire
circumstances to your friends and family and be sure to tell them how
your life can be damaged forever if you don't get help from a qualified
lawyer now. Get a loan; many times you can even get a bad credit loan
based on your assets like owning a home or car. Apply for credit or
check your credit cards for unused credit. If you have a credit card you
may also make a request to your credit card company to increase your
balance.

Before talking about cost, first talk to the lawyer about
your criminal charge or investigation to find out if the lawyer can
help you. If the criminal defense lawyer can help you then the fee will
be discussed. If the lawyer cannot help you, you may ask them to refer
you to the right lawyer or source.

Criminal Defense Lawyers for White Collar Crimes

White
collar crimes are criminal charges generally regarded as non-violent.
Most white collar or federal cases involve fraud. If charged with a
white collar crime, it is wise to choose a criminal defense lawyer
working with a team of lawyers and experts and has the resources to give
you the best legal representation and defense. Do not choose a lawyer
just because he is a family friend. Your life is at stake and you need
appropriate legal representation from a criminal defense lawyer. Know
that a lawyer who works with legal business documents or processes is
not automatically qualified to work on white collar criminal defense.
Criminal defense is a completely different arena and it is best to hire a
lawyer with experience in the criminal court room, laws and procedure.

White
collar criminal charges, especially fraud, are currently being
penalized and pursued ferociously by the FBI and U.S. lawyers. Now is
not the time to sit back and wait for criminal charges to be filed if
you or your associates are being investigated. It is imperative you hire
a criminal defense lawyer immediately to lessen the severity of the
charges that do get filed, steer the case in a favorable direction, or
possibly prevent charges from being filed.

The Prosecutor's Position

Prosecutors
have power in determining what criminal charges are filed, which
charges they are willing to change and the penalties. Criminal defense
lawyers know how to have a relationship and communication with a
prosecutor that works favorably for you. The top criminal defense
lawyers know how important it is to communicate well and effectively
with prosecutors. No book can teach that, this valuable experience is
beyond price and can only be gained in working as a criminal defense
lawyer.

Don't Risk Your Life, Never Represent Yourself

Criminal
laws and defense are elaborate and the complexity is beyond what you
could ever attempt to learn about in a book. There are facets of
criminal law not immediately visible to the amateur or lawyer just
graduating law school. The best lawyers are not going to publish their
winning strategies and expert resources in books for competitors to pick
up. Don't even give a second thought to representing yourself; hire a
criminal defense lawyer for your life and future.

Do Not Plead Guilty because You Think the Odds are Against You. Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer

The
prosecutor, detectives, or investigators may make you feel like they
have all the evidence to convict you and you have no chance. Do not buy
into this; hire a criminal defense lawyer immediately to preserve
evidence in your favor and without delay conduct a private criminal
investigation that will help you. A lawyer will also conduct an
investigation as to how the evidence was obtained, stored and many other
variables. A lawyer will also question witnesses and look at their
history and character for flaws that weaken the prosecutor's case.

You are the best reason to hire a competent criminal defense lawyer.

Learn about criminal law defense
and what to do to protect yourself if you are being investigated,
charged with a crime, and other criminal defense matters.Read
information on the best criminal lawyers and their case results. An expert on criminal defense from LibertyBell Law Group wrote this article.

2 comments:

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